The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-05-26
THE LARGEST SUNDAY SCHOOL IN
THE WORLD.
lGton, Harpcr's Yonna People.

Chicago, where churches are few and
saloons plenty, stands large three story
brick building, the home of the Central
Church North Side Sunday school, the
largest in the world. 1t is under the
auspices of Professor Swings;s church,
and it stands in the centre of district
denaely populated with foreigners of
nearly every nationality.
The streets fairly swarm with thou.
sands of children, and the wonder is as
much where as how they all live.
Every building from attic to basement is
crowded, whole family making their
home in a single cheerless room, and out
of such places, and surrounded by every
influence that tends 10 evil, and few that
encourage noble life, come the great
army of little ones that compose the
school. All the week long they play
upon the streets and alleys; many, who
are old enough, work, some support.
ing their wretched parents in idleness ;
but to great number of them Sunday
and Sunday school is the one bright spot
in all their lives.
How and when was the school started
Nine years sgo Mr.. Charles B. Holmes,
of Chicago, with heart full of pity for
these worse than homeless little waits,
rented small hall in a third story, aud
announced that be had started Sunday.
school. About four hundred, noisy,
boisterous boys and girls responded to
the invitation, for the most part bent
on "haviDg q good time," and determined
to give the school as hard a struggle as
possible for existence.
That first Sunday will ever be mem.
orable one, as much for the difficulties it
offered as because it was the birthday OF
the school. The following Sunday the
attendance increased, and so did the dis.
position on the part of the big boys to
run the school on plan of their own.
When Mr.. Holmes wanted to speak, they
would be seized with sudden inapira.
ton 10 sing, and the selections wers not
always those 10 be found in hymn. books.
But notwithstanding such obstacles, the
work was pushed on, and the attendance
steadily increased, so that ut the end OF
the third year it had reached twelve
hundred. During these first few years
three big policemen were kept busy
maintaining order and looking after the
bad boys, who devised all manner OF
schemes to break up the school. But
with added years has come radical
change. Those same bad boys who made
the most trouble are How among the
most regular attendants, and nowhere in
the country can be found a more orderly,
well.bekaved assemblage than gathers
here every Sunday. The. policemen at
the door are still retained, but only as a
wise precaution in case of fire or some
other emergency.
When the fifth anniversary came
round, the old quarters, which had long
been inadequate, we're exchanged for the
present home-a fine building SO by 14O
feet, built expressly for the school, con.
tanning stores below, and the second and
third stories being devoted to the mission
work. With these greatly improved
facilities the attendance rapidly
increased, until at the present time there
are more than five thousand names upon
the rolls, and an average attendance Of
more than half that number.
Now let us take peep at the school
as it looks on q Sunday afternoon. Long
before the appointed hour children come
pouring in by the hundreds from every
direction, completely filling the street
They form in long lines, aud all eyes
are an1iously directed down the street
When, some blocks away, carriage is
seen dashing around the corner, a great
shout goes up, which only ceases after
the occupant has smiled and nodded and
disappeared through the big door. It il
their way-and no nlistakable one-o1
welcoming the Superintendent A mo-
ment later and the gong strikes, the
doors fly open, and the boys file in one
side, the girls upon the other. Entering
we find a large light hall, with three
Thousand chairs, which are quickly filled
The Superintendent and musicians
occupy a high platform at the fsrthel
corner of the room, which is triangular
in shape.
The school is conducted on a plar
original with Mr.. Holmes, and one
which for economy and grand results
cannot be equalled. For convenience
the school is divided into sections Of one
hundred scholars, each of which is pre-
sided over by teacher, or rather
"helper," who, with q word here anc
q nod there, restyains the overaowine
tendencies of youth. With the exception
of the infant class of three hundred, who
occupy side room, all the children form
one grand class of nearly three Thousand
scholars ranging from sixteen years o.
age down to wee babies in the arms O.
brothers and sisters sometimes not much
older than themselves. This great mul
titude read, sing, and are taught in per
feet concert as one child.
The exercises move along like we'll
regulated express train, and the reading
and singing alternate without the loss O.
moments time. No books are used il
this Sunday.school, for the songs are
painted in big letters, that may be read 6
block distant, on great sheets of heavy
paper as large as door.-one verse to 8
page-and hung on big easel. As fas
as verse is sung the sheet is turned over
| And such singing it is an inspiration il